A Chapter 7 bankruptcy can be noted on your credit report for 10 years. However, filing bankruptcy does NOT mean that your credit is “ruined” for 10 years. First, credit scores normally rebound after Chapter 7 withing 12 to 24 months. What really matters is what have you done after filing to improve your credit – make sure you make good credit decisions after your bankruptcy completes including making new debt payments on time. Second, it important to remember that you filed because you could not pay your debts on time. If you can’t pay your debts on time, then your credit report can show continue to show the the new missed payments for at least another 7 years. Further, if you can’t pay your debts on time, then creditors can get a judgment. That can allow them to garnish your wages and lien your home. And in Washington, judgments can follow you for ten years AND creditors can renew unpaid judgments for another 10 years. So, you can see that if you need to file bankruptcy, not filing can be much worse for a much longer period.